Uganda’s Stella Chesang won the 2026 Osaka Women’s Marathon with a time of 2:19:31, outpacing a competitive field in the World Athletics Platinum Label event. She broke away from her rivals in the final two kilometers, finishing ahead of two Ethiopian runners. The race, held in Osaka, Japan, on January 25, saw four athletes complete the course under 2:20:00.
The 2026 Osaka Women’s Marathon unfolded on January 25 in Osaka, Japan, drawing nearly 200 runners to this premier annual event on the international road running circuit. Uganda’s Stella Chesang, a 2018 Commonwealth Games 10,000 meters champion, took control in the closing stages. With two kilometers remaining, she surged ahead, maintaining her lead to cross the finish line in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 31 seconds.
Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa secured second place in 2:19:54, while defending champion Workenesh Edesa, who had won the previous year in 2:21:00, finished third at 2:19:56. Edesa’s performance, though slower than her personal best of 2:17:55, contributed to a tight race among the top contenders. Japan’s Mikuni Yada impressed the home crowd by placing fourth in 2:19:57, marking the fastest debut marathon time for a Japanese woman and elevating her to sixth on the national all-time list.
Other notable Japanese finishers included Mao Uesugi in fifth at 2:23:07 and Rie Kawauchi in sixth at 2:24:16. The event highlighted strong depth, with multiple athletes achieving sub-2:20 times, underscoring its status as a key fixture in women’s marathon racing. Full results confirm the competitive nature of the race, which remains a staple in Japan’s athletics calendar.
